Malawi’s Southern Region Chess League (SRCL) has secured sponsorship worth MK130,000 from Stitches Boutique for a tournament on Saturday, January 29 at Steers Garden in Blantyre that kick starts the 2017 season.

Chirwa, new SRCL chairman

SRCL chairman Wasoka James Chirwa said the champion shall receive MK40,000 runner-up MK30,000 with K20,000 going to the third place winner while the best lady player shall walk away with MK10,000.

Chirwa said the special ladies category has been initiated to attract women participation and encourage more to take up the sport.

Chirwa said they were very grateful of the sponsorship from the clothline and cosmetics shop whom the league approached for support.

“We wrote a proposal to Stitches Boutique for possible support and we are very grateful that it won their approval,” he said.

He said the new SRCL committee, that was ushered into office in December, is in the process of identifying more sponsorship for this year.

The new committee has Wasoka as chairman, Peter Jailosi as his deputy, Steve Mpighu as general secretary, Gomezgani Banda as treasurer, Kissinger Kabuluzi as publicity Secretary and Ndindase Ngoma as regional coordinator for schools’ chess.

The Northern League has Stanley Mtuwa as chairman, Kelusi Mhango as deputy, Robert Ngwira as general secretary, Bon Mwakikunga as treasurer, Thom Phiri as publicity secretary, while the schools’ chess coordinator is Gera Geoffrey.

Chairman for the Central Region League is Mose Mtumbuka whose deputy is Mark Ndipita with Stan Juma as treasurer, Eddie Kulesi as general secretary, Alfred Chinthere as publicity secretary and Leonard M’bwana as schools’ chess coordinator.